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Content ArticleThe ladder of co-production describes a series of steps towards full co-production in health and social care. Developed by the National Co-production Advisory Group set up by the organisation Think Local Act Personal, it supports greater understanding of the various steps that need to happen in co-production, such as access, inclusion and consultation. This webpage contains a variety of downloadable resources and a video explaining the ladder of co-production.
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Content ArticleProviding high quality care and treatment for patients coming to the end of their lives is likely to involve making difficult and emotionally challenging decisions. This guidance from the General Medical Council provides a framework to support doctors in meeting the needs of each patient as they come towards the end of their life.
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Content ArticleThis article explores political barriers to integrated care, arguing that improving the US healthcare system requires the pursuit of three aims: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations and reducing per capita costs of health care.
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Content Article
Animation - Help (20 August 2020)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Staff safety
This short animation provides a commentary on stigma about mental healthcare for doctors, highlighting that a culture change is needed in the way we talk about and approach mental health in the healthcare community. -
Content ArticleDebriefing is a process of communication that takes place between a team following a clinical case. It identifies errors as well as areas of excellence for both teams and individuals. This article in BMJ Open Quality describes a quality improvement project in an emergency department in Ireland, which aimed to introduce hot debriefing following all cardiac arrests.
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Content Article1 in 5 women are affected by maternal mental health problems, which are the leading cause of maternal death in the first postnatal year. This report by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) estimates the costs and benefits of a model of care which could give women’s mental health the same priority as their physical health during the perinatal period. The model focuses on the essential role of midwives and health visitors and would allow for women’s mental wellbeing to be accurately assessed at every routine contact and suitable treatments to be offered. It is based on research commissioned by MMHA and conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which estimates that making changes to standard practice could mean £52 million in NHS savings and quality of life improvements worth £437 million.
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Content ArticleThis study in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine examined coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths (PFDs) reports to identify deaths involving Covid-19 that coroners saw as preventable. The authors found that: there was geographical variation in the reporting of PFDs; most (39%) were written by coroners in the North West of England. the coroners raised 56 concerns, problems in communication being the most common (30%), followed by failure to follow protocols (23%). NHS organisations were sent the most PFDs (51%), followed by the government (26%). responses to PFDs by these organisations were poor. The study concludes that PFDs contain a rich source of information on preventable deaths that has previously been difficult to examine systematically. It identified concerns raised by coroners that need to be addressed during the government’s inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, to reduce the likelihood of mistakes being repeated.
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Content ArticleCore20PLUS5 is NHS England's national approach to reducing healthcare inequalities. In this blog, Paul Gavin, Deputy Director of the Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, reflects on learnings from a recent online survey about Core20PLUS5 in which healthcare professionals and voluntary sector organisations shared their views on the approach. NHS England have also produced an infographic summarising the survey results.
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Content Article
Preventable deaths tracker
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Coroner reports
The Preventable Deaths Tracker was set up to explore concerns raised by coroners to prevent future deaths. The tracker aims to collate data, information and analysis arising from coroners reports and other investigations and make it accessible for all. It hopes to warn against repeat hazards and highlight important lessons, to improve public safety, reduce avoidable harms and prevent premature deaths. The tracker was originally developed with funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research. -
EventuntilWith more than 70,000 excess deaths during the 2003 heatwave in Europe, the acceleration of certain vector-borne diseases, poor air quality and increasing levels of climate anxiety, climate change is already having adverse health impacts on people’s physical and mental health. This report comprehensively addresses some of the most threatening health impacts of climate change. Each of the chapters within the report analyses the relation between climate change and the consequential health impacts and, through a series of case studies, showcases best practise on how we can tackle this. The report serves not just to highlight the extent of the link between climate change and health but also demonstrates that solutions are in our grasp to prevent and mitigate the health consequences of climate change. The webinar ‘The climate crisis and its health impacts‘ will centre around three themes: How climate change impacts human health What can be done to prevent or mitigate such impacts Why it’s important to prioritise public health in the climate debate and methods to achieve this Speakers Elaine Mulcahy, Director UK Health Alliance on Climate Change Dr Marina Romanello, Executive Director, Lancet Countdown Dr Claus Runge, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Sustainability at Bayer How to attend To attend this report launch webinar on Zoom please register for your joining link.
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Content ArticlePrimary care is a crucial part of every healthcare system, but the US spends less on primary care and more on specialty care than other high-income countries. The results of this are burnout, high staff turnover and physician shortages. These were all major problems before Covid-19, that have been worsened by the pandemic. In this episode of The Commonwealth Foundation's podcast The Dose, host Shanoor Seervai asks Asaf Bitton, MD, executive director of the health innovation center at Ariadne Labs, what it will take to rebuild the USA's broken primary care system.
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Content ArticleThe Australian health care system includes a national organisation representing health care consumers and equivalent organisations in most states and territories. There are several disease-specific patient organisations, as well as formalised networks advocating for greater patient involvement in health technology assessment and research. This signals a system that sees a place for consumer insights: a system that is on a journey of maturing the way in which it seeks to involve consumers in decision-making. This article explores patient leadership, recognising it as the next level of engagement, highlighting the value and impact of incorporating the experience of patients at all levels of the health system and policy decision-making, and recognising the opportunity for consumers to become leaders.
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Content ArticleThis study in the Journal of Patient Safety aimed to describe the contributing factors in diagnosis-related and failure-to-monitor malpractice claims in which nurses are named the primary responsible party. It also aimed to identify actions healthcare leaders can take to enhance the role of nurses in diagnosis. The authors found that as nurses are held legally accountable for their role in diagnosis, leaders need to raise awareness across the system of the roles and responsibilities of nurses in this area. They also need to focus on enhancing nurses' diagnostic skills and knowledge.
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Content ArticleThis preprint study aimed to assess whether there is a change in the incidence of cardiac and all-cause death in young people following Covid-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated individuals. The authors concluded that there is no evidence of an association between Covid-19 vaccination and an increased risk of death in young people. By contrast, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with substantially higher risk of cardiac related death and all-cause death.
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Content Article
Animation - The 'D' word (10 March 2022)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in End of life care
This short animated video looks at the importance of clear, compassionate communication in healthcare, particularly when discussing end-of-life care and death with patients. -
Content Article
BMA - On the edge: GPs in despair (18 March 2022)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in GP and primary care
This article by the British Medical Association (BMA) looks at the pressures GPs face that are leading to an increasing number leaving the profession. Several GPs from around the UK share their personal experience of unsustainable workloads and burnout, and the impact this has had on their health and wellbeing. The article highlights the impact of changes to the system on doctors at different career stages, including the increasing number of older GPs who are retiring early due to the intense pressure of their role. -
Content ArticleThis briefing by The Health Foundation Improvement Analytics Unit looks at recent data around patient preferences for online and face-to-face consultations and examines the impact of the increasing use of online tools on patient access to primary care. The Improvement Analytics Unit examined 7.5 million patient-initiated requests for primary care made using the askmyGP online consultation system between March 2019 and September 2021 at 146 general practices in England. These practices had a combined total list size of 1.35 million patients.
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Content ArticleThis short animated video explores the issue of prioritising equality in shared decision making, to ensure that all patients' and family members' values are sought and incorporated in treatment decisions.
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Content ArticleThis investigation by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) explores the timely recognition and treatment of suspected pulmonary embolism in emergency departments. Pulmonary embolisms can form when clots from the deep veins of the body, usually originating in the legs, travel through the venous system and become lodged in the lungs. A person suffering from a pulmonary embolism requires urgent treatment to reduce the chance of significant harm or death.
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Content ArticleIn October 2021 the UK Government launched a review of leadership in health and social care, led by former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Gordon Messenger. In this article, the NHS Confederation - the membership organisation that brings together, supports and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - looks at the key issues for NHS leadership that NHS Federation members would like to see addressed in Sir Gordon Messenger’s final report, expected to be published in April 2022.
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Content ArticleThis preprint study aimed to determine the prevalence of organ impairment in Long Covid at 6 and 12 months after initial acute Covid-19 infection. The authors found that single organ impairment persisted in 59% patients at 12 months post-Covid-19. The conclude that organ impairment in Long Covid has implications for symptoms, quality of life and longer-term health, and they highlight the need for prevention and integrated care of Long Covid.
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Content Article500,000 immunocompromised people, who are at particularly high risk from Covid, live in the UK. Because their weakened immune systems meant they were less likely to have been protected by the first two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine than the general population, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended they have a ‘third primary dose’ eight weeks after their second dose (whereas other groups were to get a booster six months after their second dose). But the complexity of this system meant that huge numbers of immunocompromised people were left waiting for a vaccine invitation that never came. In this blog for The King's Fund, Gemma Peters, Chief Executive of Blood Cancer UK, examines the challenges people with blood cancer and others with compromised immunity faced during the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. She argues that NHS England must fix these issues by establishing a register of immunocompromised people and a reliable way of contacting them, tackling misinformation and publicly acknowledging the issues people with compromised immune systems have faced to date.
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EventuntilThe Point of Care Foundation has partnered with others whose mission is to Humanise Healthcare. Our next cohort for the Patient Leadership Programme is scheduled for May 2022, when we once again partner with David Gilbert, mental health service user, director of InHealth Associates and the first Patient Director in the NHS, to host his ground-breaking Patient Leadership programme. Patient Leadership signals a breakthrough in healthcare that moves beyond traditional engagement and uncovers the pioneering and transformative work of patient leaders – those affected by life-changing illness, injury or disability who want to lead change in the healthcare system. Or ‘those who have been through stuff, who know stuff, who want to change stuff’. This course lays the foundation for understanding patient leadership. It is designed for both patients and non-patients to explore together different facets of this emerging social movement. Programme lead – David Gilbert, Director, InHealth Associates Host – Ioanna Xenephontes, Patient Experience & Involvement Programmes, The Point of Care Foundation Who should come on this programme? We welcome applications from patient and carer leaders, health professionals, managers, non-clinical staff and those from the independent, voluntary and charitable sectors who are interested in advancing the cause of patient leadership. It is open to international attendees. Programme Outline The Course will be delivered through four sessions; each will be two and a half hours long and take place via Zoom. Each session will consist of about 50/50 presentation and discussion. It will enable participants to develop the knowledge and skills to drive the cause of patient leadership. Patient Leadership Programme Outline Cost Total cost for the programme (all four sessions) costs: £195. A small number of free bursary places are available to patient leaders. Details on application. *The programme will be limited to 12 participants. Applications To apply for a place on the Patient Leadership Programme please follow the link to our application form. The application form will take you around 10 minutes and needs to be completed in one sitting. We have two free bursary places available. If you are a patient, service user or carer and feel that you are unable to pay the fee, please email info@pointofcarefoundation.org.uk to be considered for one of these two free places on a first come first served basis. If your application for the bursary is successful you will receive a voucher code to enter for the programme fee when applying.
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Content ArticleIn Sierra Leone, 34% of pregnancies and 40% of maternal deaths are amongst teenagers and risks are known to be higher for younger teenagers. This qualitative study in Reproductive Health aimed to explore the causes of this high incidence of maternal death for younger teenagers, and to identify possible interventions to improve outcomes. Through focus groups and semi-structured interviews, the authors identified transactional sex - including sex for school fees, sex with teachers for grades and sex for food and clothes - as the main cause of high pregnancy rates for this group. They also identified gendered social norms for sexual behaviour, lack of access to contraception and the fact that abortion is illegal in Sierra Leone as factors meaning that teenage girls are more likely to become pregnant. Key factors affecting vulnerability to death once pregnant included abandonment, delayed care seeking and being cared for by a non-parental adult. Their findings challenge the idea that adolescent girls have the necessary agency to make straightforward choices about their sexual behaviour and contraceptives. They identify a mentoring scheme for the most vulnerable pregnant girls and a locally managed blood donation register as potential interventions to deal with the high rate of maternal death amongst teenage girls.
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Content ArticleThis analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development provides the latest comparable data and trends on the performance of health systems in OECD countries and key emerging economies. It examines performance indicators that suggest the following trends: Overall health status in the United Kingdom is close to the OECD average Overweight/obesity and alcohol consumption are higher than the OECD average Population coverage is high, with high satisfaction and strong financial protection The United Kingdom performs well on many key indicators of care quality, though avoidable hospital admissions could be further reduced Health and long-term care spending are above average, though hospital beds and the number of doctors and nurses are slightly below the OECD average The analysis also looks at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on deaths, health spending, life expectancy, healthcare activity and mental health.
